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    Arnaldo Lantigua named ACL Player of the Week

    Doug Gray 23

    The Cincinnati Reds had a good week when it comes to awards as the complex team in Arizona had a clean sweep of the player and pitcher of the week awards. Arnaldo Lantigua took home the player of the week award for the Arizona Complex League from July 7th through the 13th. On the pitching side things went to Abraham Gaitan, but he’ll get his own write up later today.

    The week began with the best single game of the career for Arnaldo Lantigua. Facing off against the White Sox complex team he went came to the plate five times and walked away with five hits. One of those hits was a double. Two other hits were home runs. He would scored four runs and drive in four runs in that game.

    The next day he picked up two more hits, including a double. He also walked twice in the game, scored two runs, and he drove in four runs for the second day in a row. When he took the field next he picked up his third home run of the week and drove in two more runs. Friday saw him keep his hitting streak alive as he went 1-4. The hitting streak did come to an end on Saturday as he went 0-2, but he walked twice that day and scored a run.

    In total he played in five games during the week and went 9-20 with five extra-base hits, eight runs scored, 10 runs batted in, a stolen base, and he had four walks. All of that worked out to a .450/.542/1.000 line for the week. After his game on Monday night where he had a hit and a walk he’s now hitting .268/.357/.537 with a league leading nine home runs. You can see his season stats here.

    Here’s the Cincinnati Reds players to win a Player of the Week Award in 2025:

    PlayerLeagueTime Frame
    Carlos SanchezFlorida State LeagueApril 14-20
    Hector RodriguezSouthern LeagueApril 21-27
    Carlos SanchezFlorida State LeagueApril 28-May 4
    Jose FrancoSouthern LeagueApril 28-May 4
    Luis MorellisArizona Complex LeagueMay 5-11
    Chase PettyInternational LeagueMay 5-11
    Aaron WilkersonInternational LeagueMay 19-25
    Sal StewartSouthern LeagueMay 19-25
    Chase BurnsSouthern LeagueMay 26-June 1
    Alfredo DunoFlorida State LeagueMay 26-June 1
    Hector RodriguezSouthern LeagueJune 16-22
    Arnaldo LantiguaArizona Complex LeagueJuly 7-13
    Abraham GaitanArizona Complex LeagueJuly 7-13

    Doug Gray
    Doug Gray is the owner and operator of this website and has been running it since 2006 in one variation or another.

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    23 Responses

    2. A nice week for Arnaldo, hopefully he can have a couple for like that before the complex league wraps up.

      Once the ACL is done, how many guys do you think move up to Daytona to keep playing real games vs staying behind for the unofficial draft league? I would think they’d want to keep Lewis, Lantigua, and maybe Alcantara playing in real games and see how they handle the next level. All three should be joining Drew Davies to start there next year. Perhaps Steele Hall as well, but I won’t be shocked if he starts in the complex league next year as he’ll still only be 18.

      1. Probably not many. Just like last year. But I am with you in thinking that they’ll probably want to get Lewis at the very least to Daytona. But that once again leaves us wondering if there’s going to be a chain reaction above him to make it happen or not. Balcazar moved up. Does that mean others will too on Friday? I don’t know. I just keep looking at Arroyo and saying “this isn’t a promotion worthy season”, but I also understand that the power is either going to come back or it’s not and that’s going to happen whether he’s in Chattanooga or Louisville or Tokyo. And that it’s the power more than the hitting aspect of things that’s dragging his line down a bit this year.

        1. I agree with you on Arroyo and his lack of power this year I feel is due to his injury last year. That is why I dropped him down so much in my rankings. I am just hoping that he recovers and the Arroyo of spring training 2024 reappears in 2026.

          Also, I really don’t see Arroyo’s power showing up again in Tokyo. :)

        2. “but I also understand that the power is either going to come back or it’s not and that’s going to happen whether he’s in Chattanooga or Louisville or Tokyo.”

          That’s where I’ve been with Arroyo. I think he’s done well with the other parts of his slash line .272/.333. Really the only thing I am worried about with Arroyo is if we can keep him healthy, and that doesn’t change in AA, or AAA either. I lean toward promoting him, but I won’t be very upset either way.

          Now guys I think need to be promoted today are Rodriguez, Miller, Stafura, and Lewis.

    3. As mentioned above, I would not be surprised to see Stafura and Lewis promoted in the next week or two. These two were more ready for promotion than Balcazar. The move by Balcazar created the opening at SS Stafura needs. And moving Stafura creates room in Daytona for Lewis.

      Some questions I have:

      1. Did the Reds know they were drafting Steele Hall last week and moved Balcazar as the first step in this chain reaction so Hall could play SS every day in the ACL?
      2. Did the Reds come to an underslot agreement with Steele Hall that enables them to have enough cash to go overslot elsewhere?

      The Reds have nearly $600,000 to spend above the cap. If the Reds saved $500,000 – $700,000 by going underslot with Hall and Mason Morris that gives them $1.25+ million to sign Ethan Moore. That would be very tempting. If that fails it would be even more tempting for Myles Upchurch.

      In the past the Reds have drafted a hard to sign top 200 prospect in rounds 18 – 20 as another option in case they can not sign their overslot pick. This year they don’t have an overslot pick yet still drafted two players. I can’t help but feel that at least one of them will sign with the Reds.

      1. The ACL is done in like 9 days. Hall will go to the ACL complex and participate in the unofficial supplemental double secret probation draft league that they do now for draft picks and complex guys.

    4. Since Lantigua was a steal from the Dodgers maybe the whining about losing Sirota can stop, who has been on the DL three times this year and was recently placed on the 60-day DL.

        1. While they were two different transactions, 11 days apart, they were very widely considered linked, with the Lantigua being a significant offset to the loss of Sirota and the comp pick. The key is the offset value, in this case, something for (essentially) nothing. They were for all practical purposes package deals, with the separation by 11 days due to the time needed to complete the Sasaki negotiations.

    5. If Arroyo moves up, I do tend to agree with Doug, the power is going to come at Louisville or Chat… I do not know what his barrel rate or exit velos are for his batted balls in play are. Maybe they are looking for a certain average on that? I am just spit balling. I do not have access to those numbers.

    6. Arroyo has definitely been stinging the ball more lately. I wouldn’t trade him now as it might be a big case of selling low. I’m also against this Reds team buying. I don’t think we are a bat and a bullpen arm away from being WS contenders this year. Don’t throw good money (prospects) after bad.

      1. I think it all comes down to what kind of deals are available. Ideally, the Reds will improve their team at the deadline for this year and beyond. Realistically, the team is slightly above average. So, I’m not sure that there is an elite hitter or pitcher available who would push the Reds to the level of the Cubs or Phillies. I don’t mind trading fringe prospects for rental players, but I would avoid the temptation of trading our top guys for someone that might help us slip into the playoffs.

        1. I think one of the factors will be how they define ‘improve the team.’ I can see a rationale to selling a player or two, not for established major leaguers but for players that can help in 2026 and 2027. Listening to Krall, he is often vague about the club’s personnel needs, leaving some things open for interpretation. I can easily see a trade of a guy like Martinez (ending contract) for a guy similar to Mey or HRod (as opposed to kids in the lower minors) who may not be ready this year but with an eye on 2026.

        2. Yes, there are many ways they can go. I like the fact that more teams are in the playoff hunt, but it’s harder to improve at the deadline when many teams are competing for scarce resources. The best time to enhance a good team is during the offseason, but a handful of teams distort that market.

    7. I agree with Duke and instead go the other direction. I sell Singer, Martinez and Hays. I also sell any bullpen arm they get a decent offer from. Pagan has been a great boost to the bullpen and should get something decent.

      Singer should be able to return a prospect haul similar to what we received for Mahle in 2022.

      Martinez and Hays combined should be able to return a haul similar to what we received for Castillo.

      Pagan and Fraley should be able to provide a return better than Drury and Naquin provided in 2022.

      I have no problem trading away Lux and CES.

      If the Reds trade these players and between these trades and FA acquisitions get 2 quality OF to flank Friedl, one middle of the rotation SP and 3 quality bullpen arms they may very well be favorites in 2026.

      Unfortunately, it is cheaper to ignore acquiring a quality FA and getting our FA at dollar general.

      1. Two quality OF, you’re looking at $20 million each on the FA market, and that’s not even for sure things.

        A mid rotation SP? There’s another $20+ million

        3 quality bullpen arms? A least $30 million combined.

        So you think we are going to spend $90 million in next year payroll in FA? Push payroll to about $160 million even before Elly starts making some serious money in arbitration?

        Keep Singer unless you are getting great value, he was one of 24 SP in all of MLB last year to make 32 regular season starts, and he is on pace to do it again this year.

        Pagan, maybe, he might bring back a solid return, even as a rental.

        Nobody is giving up anything of value for Fraley.

        Given his price, i’m not sure how much Martinez brings back, but i’d listen at least.

        Hays injury history might ding his value, but i’d listen. I’d at least want a fringe top 10 prospect from an org to move him. The odds of both us and him picking up his mutual option seem slim, so getting something is appealing.

        The more I think about it, the more I think we do absolutely nothing, buying or selling. The wailing of the fans that always say trade everything one way or the other is going to be annoying.

        1. Who said anything about getting all these players on the FA market. Get one near ready OF in a trade.

          Hays cost $5 million. A couple of years ago Drury cost less than that. There are solid FA hitters that are willing to come to Cincinnati on a one year deal because they know the chances of having a year that sets them for life is pretty good in our small ballpark.

          Trade Nick Martinez to Boston for Jhostynxon Garcia. He is pretty much ML ready and plays OF at the league Minimum.

          With these two moves you have upgraded the OF at no added cost.

          For bullpen arms maybe the Reds should think outside the box. Pagan would cost about $10 million. But the Yankees signed Weaver 2 years ago for nothing and converted him to a RP and he became a stud.

          Acquire arms better suited for the bullpen via these trade or via FA acquisition on the cheap. Maybe convert Acuna/Petty/Aguiar or someone else to the bullpen like the Reds did with Lyon Richardson/Ashcraft/Santillan.

          That leaves a SP. Resign Martinez to a two year $40 million contract.

          Through these simple moves you have completed all the tasks I mention above and increase payroll by maybe $5 or $10 Million.

          As for trade values:

          We got Acuna and Rodriguez for Naquin and Naquin was a rental. Fraley is not a rental and is a better player. Fraley is much more valuable than Naquin. We may have to take a risk for return on Fraley like we did with Naquin and Drury but we should get value.

          Hays has an .829 OPS. I think teams would take a risk to acquire a bat this good.

          I would consider keeping Singer depending on what the return is. If you get a top 100 prospect you have to make the deal though. Worst case scenario the Reds go into ST with a rotation of Greene/Abbott/Lodolo/Burns/Lowder.

          $160 million is not going to happen and if the Reds make the right trades it doesn’t need to happen.

        2. @Stock – personally, I’m tried of trading for prospects…unless its a difference maker. An OF power bat is needed and should be addressed in the off season. I had thought Byron Buxton or Wilyer Abreu could have been had, but the Twins and Red Soxs have both been playing well lately.

          On a side note, ELDC needs signed in the off season to a lifetime contract. Something like 10 years @ $400 Million + a mutual option of 5 years @ $200 Million

        4. I wonder if the Mets would trade Carson Benge and a secondary piece for Singer. Not a lot of power (though some), but the rest of his game is excellent. Rated number 73 by MLB Pipeline. Could play CF and shift Friedl to LF.

      2. Singer, Martinez and Hays are worth trading if the return is good.

        I don’t think we are a contender this year, but I still want to see the Reds do well. With that in mind I wouldn’t trade everyone away.

        I think Martinez gets Freeland from the Dodgers, and Singer gets Eldridge from the Giants.

        Those 2 added to Callihan, Arroyo, Rodriguez, Stewart, and Collier would give us a lot of good possibilities to add to the 2026 lineup.

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